Was he out of shape or what? Some guys just don't run a 40 time very well...but I know some high school tight ends that can run a 5.1 40 timeWhat were his split times? If he was able to explode through 10 yards and just run out of gas for the next 30, I'd say he needs some conditioning work....if he was slow getting to even 10, I'd say that's a concern going forward for him.

Was he out of shape or what? Some guys just don't run a 40 time very well...but I know some high school tight ends that can run a 5.1 40 timeWhat were his split times? If he was able to explode through 10 yards and just run out of gas for the next 30, I'd say he needs some conditioning work....if he was slow getting to even 10, I'd say that's a concern going forward for him.

Brandon Spikes gave hmself some extra time to try to prepare to run the 40 as he did not run at the combine. His times do not surprise scouts, as it was speculated that he would have a hard time breaking 5 seconds.

He is just not a fast LB and he is stiff in his movement as well. But as I have said with Spikes, he makes plays an has shown himself to have very good instincts on the field. He a very good blizing LB and he makes plays in the passing game as he has multiple interception returns for TD.

There is such a thing as guys that run blazing 40 times, but play at there timed speeds. Spikes did not run a fast 40 time at all, but don't let his time in the 40 confuse the fact that this is a very good ILB and plays faster than he is timed in a 40 in pads.

And once again, I will take him over Channing Crowder now. Crowder is not a playmaker and this kid is. 31.5 tackles for lost, 5.5 sacks, 14 PBU and 6 interceptions with 4 returned for TD out of the MLB position is pretty solid.

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Last edited by phinsfansc on Wed Mar 17, 2010 6:00 pm, edited 1 time in total.

There is such a thing as guys that run blazing 40 times, but play at there timed speeds. Spikes did not run a fast 40 time at all, but don't let his time in the 40 confuse the fact that this is a very good ILB and plays faster than he is timed in a 40 in pads.

SC I was with you until you said that you would plug him in over Crowder right now.

I am not a fan of Spikes at all. Like I've said before, I think Parcells will fall in love with the nastiness that he has in his game. He naturally despises the opponent.

However, I don't see it from him physically. Like you said, he is stiff in his movement both laterally, and up the field. In addition to that, his 40 yard time is pretty indicitive of his gameday speed. He's just not fast, he's not quick, and nothing close to either.

To me, he is a strong, physical, nasty ILB and has all those types of qualities, but he just lacks the athletic ability to play at a high level, especially in the 34 which calls for great athleticism. If he's there in the 3rd, he's worth a shot, but even then I think it depends who is available.

There is such a thing as guys that run blazing 40 times, but play at there timed speeds. Spikes did not run a fast 40 time at all, but don't let his time in the 40 confuse the fact that this is a very good ILB and plays faster than he is timed in a 40 in pads.

Brandon Spikes gave hmself some extra time to try to prepare to run the 40 as he did not run at the combine. His times do not surprise scouts, as it was speculated that he would have a hard time breaking 5 seconds.

He is just not a fast LB and he is stiff in his movement as well. But as I have said with Spikes, he makes plays an has shown himself to have very good instincts on the field. He a very good blizing LB and he makes plays in the passing game as he has multiple interception returns for TD.

I would plug him in over Channing Crowder right now.

I wouldn't plug in any college player who hasn't seen even a single NFL practice before any guy who is a starter in the NFL. Especially a guy who just ran a very slow 5+ second 40 time from a position where he shouldn't be that slow.

_________________A good RB is nice, a good QB even better, but it's best to be able to stop someone first.

SC I was with you until you said that you would plug him in over Crowder right now.

Lol..but you said he was slow, SC said he was fast...but you were with him until that?

You reiterated it in your post...what exactly is it that you were with SC on?

What I said was Spikes plays quicker than his 40 time. Jerry Rice was a 4.6 out of college, but he was more than fast enough to be probably the greatest WR to play the game. Obviously Spikes ran a slow 40 time.

eleaf, sure you would need to see the kid in an NFL practice and preseason games, but my money would be on Spikes to beat Crowder out.

rhoads30, running a 4.99 and 5.03 40 will cause Spikes stock to drop dramatically. After the college season was over, this kid was a projected 1st round pick, but I started reading about concerns about his speed early this year. He will now drop probably into the 3rd round, maybe even the 4th.

Still, you have plenty of game tape on this kid playing in NC games, playing against competition in the best conference in the nation in the SEC. The kid makes plays. You can't overlook what you see on film and get enamored with a player because of what he does in the combine.

If he can't bust 5 in the 40 he'll be a bust in the NFL. The LB's have to cover screens, TE's and scat backs that can all clip faster than 4.7. It wouldn't surprise me to see him drop down to day 2 with those kinds of times. Life's hard when a banged up LT can out-race you to the sideline.

Jason has been moved around an awful lot. I thought he looked good at safety in the games he played in his early career. Also, there is a question about Jason smarts, and no matter how good the conference you play in, if you can not learn the defense, it does not matter how talented you are.

Brandon Spikes could end up only being a 2 down LB because of his speed, but I saw the kid play a lot because I live here in South Carolina. He is a good football player.